Though exceptional drought (D-4) is presently worst, I’m presently lobbying the drought monitor folks to create an additional, even more extreme drought category: D-fense — drought so extreme that football is affected. So far, we’ve seen at least one drought-impacted major college express a desire to play more of its games farther southeast, in states less affected by drought.

Now the really bad news: The odds of a new La Nina are now about 75%, according to the Climate Prediction Center. Their seasonal outlooks have correspondingly larger chances for a dry and warm fall and winter in Texas and much of the southern United States.

This is looking more and more like a multi-year drought. And this first year has been so dry and hot, it probably ought to count for two.